66 MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN [ VOL. 10 



Malme var. robustior Steyermark, Maguire et al. 2*176; A. sprucei Malme, 

 Maguire et al. 41721; AchlyphUa disticha Maguare & Wurdack, Maguire et al. 

 42402; Orectanthe sceptrum (Oliver) Maguire subsp. occidental-is Maguire, 

 Maguire et al. 40567. 



Liquid-preserved, pollen only: Abolboda bella Maguire, Maguirt et al. 34514; 

 A. ebracteata Maguire, Maguin <f al. 30467; A. grandis Grisebach var. 

 quayanensis Maguire. Maguire <l al. 27561; A. macrostachya Spruce ex Malme 

 var. angustior Maguire, Maguire et al. 36342; A. macrostachya Spruce ex Maine- 

 var. robustior Steyermark, Maguin et al. 2^176; Orectanthe ptaritepuiana 

 (Steyermark) Maguire, Maguire et al. 32823, Steyermark k Wurdack 523. Sh yi r- 

 mark & Wurdack 1221: 0. sceptrum (Oliver) Maguire, Maguire et al. 40567, 

 Maguire et al. 33180. 



Dried materials, assorted portions: Abolboda macrostachya Spruce ex Malme 

 var. macrostachya, Maguire et al. 39957; A. macrostachya Spruce ex Malme var. 

 robustior Steyermark, Maguire ct al. 28176; Orectanthe ptaritepuiana (Steyer- 

 mark) Maguire, Maguire 32766. Maguin 32823, Steyermark & ^Yurdack 908; 

 0. sceptrum (Oliver) Maguire, Maguin et al. 333 12. Maguin et al. 40567; 0. 

 sceptrum (Oliver) Maguire subsp. occidentalis Maguire, Maguin & Politi 28451. 



ANATOMICAL DESCRIPTIONS 

 ROOT 



Solereder and Meyer (1929) summarize the work of Nilsson, Poulsen, and 

 Malme, as well as their own, on root anatomy of Xyridaceae. Although their 

 data apply chiefly to Xyris. with only a few references to Abolboda. they pro- 

 vide a framework for the expression of data. Almost every character they cite 

 is represented by a number of Xyris species, and detailed mention of these, 

 other than acknowledgment of occurrence of those characters in Xyris, is un- 

 necessary here. 



Certain characteristics, on the basis of the present study, appear to be 

 of greater value than others for systematic purposes. Characters which appear 

 relatively reliable in this respect include: 



(1) Presence of a continuous pericycle, as opposed to its interruption by 

 vessels. 



(2) Snape and thickening of endodermis cells. 



(3) Number of vessels present in the vascular core (only insofar as the 

 number is relatively large or small ; a certain variation in the number 

 of xylem poles is always present. 



Other characteristics, such as the relative extent of the cortex, may have 

 some significance. Solereder and Meyer (1929) follow Nilsson in discriminating 

 between ordinary roots and mechanical roots. This contrast is probably more 

 one of degree than of kind. In the present study, the roots of AchlyphUa- 

 disticha (fig. 7) might be sa'id to be mechanical roots on account of their 

 sclerenchymatous vascular core in which phloem is minimal. The presence of 

 sclerenchyma in the core, with small scattered patches of phloem cells, suggests 

 such a designation for the roots of A. Unearifolia (fig. 2) described below, but 

 their difference from other roots is relatively minor. Likewise, the roots of A. 

 sprucei and A. macrostachya might bear such a designation, and Solereder and 

 Meyer place roots of the latter species in that category, along with A. longifolia. 



